Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!cbmvax!mks
From: mks@cbmvax.UUCP (Michael Sinz - CATS)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Layers speed (was Re: 1.4 Wish: Revamped sizing gadget)
Message-ID: <8221@cbmvax.UUCP>
Date: 19 Oct 89 11:38:02 GMT
References: <5028@cps3xx.UUCP>
Reply-To: mks@cbmvax.UUCP (Michael Sinz - CATS)
Distribution: na
Organization: Commodore Technology, West Chester, PA
Lines: 40

In article <5028@cps3xx.UUCP> porkka@frith.UUCP (Joe Porkka) writes:
>>Also, the extra layer activity will take much more time with MANY windows
>>open on the screen.  (I have had many times when I had 15 to 20 windows of
>>various types open on the workbench screen...)
>
>Is this problem addressed in 1.4? Currently the Layers performance
>is *terrible* when more than about five windows are open.
>
>On the very few occainsions that I have used a Mac, having a lot
>of windows open did not really slow things down, som its gotta
>be possible (I know, they don't have to worry about things like SMART_REFRESH)
>but an Amiga screen with a bunch of SIMPLE_REFRESH windows
>open (say 10) can be real slow. 
>

While there may be a few enhancements to the speed of the layers, the real
difference between the MAC and the Amiga is that on the MAC, the active window
that is doing the input and rendering is forced to be in front.  This makes
life much simpler from layer's point of view as the rendering is not obscured
in any way and can be done directly inot the screen.  Then, when the window
does get obscured it just forgets what was there and the new window takes its
place.  Any time a window comes up, it must redraw all parts of itself that
were obscured.  Part of the reason the Amiga seems faster is that many
programs use the SMART_REFRESH windows and don't have that overhead.

(Side note: The MAC at its fastest in handling windows is still slower
            than my Amiga with 15 windows on workbench.  IMHO)

[rest deleted]

> Joe Porkka   porkka@frith.egr.msu.edu


/----------------------------------------------------------------------\
|      /// Michael Sinz -- CATS/Amiga Software Engineer                |
|     ///  PHONE 215-431-9422  UUCP ( uunet | rutgers ) !cbmvax!mks    |
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|\\\///          When people are free to do as they please,            |
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